Line Up | A healthy looking range at the Triumph showroom in Motoworks shop. The current models are each worthy of the accolades they are receiving. One diamond jubilee Bonneville special looked particularly pleasing with polished engine covers and a pearly Union Flag wrapping the tank.
Scrambled Eggs | a semi adventure was undertaken today – Dean was trying to get a test ride at Motoworks on a demo special 2019 Triumph Scrambler 900 with an eye to buy. The latest all singing and dancing machine from Hinkley. But it had been snagged by another customer and they had failed to let Dean know this. No other models could compare with this deal. Hopefully another bike of the correct model and price will come along soon!
Shop Banner Sign | Blue logo with three stripe icon below it. Good clarity of branding easily seen at 1901 S Western Ave. Chicago. The three stripes hark back to Turner days and the tank badges of the fifties Speed Twins. The building motif is appropriate too: M.C. For motor-cycle.
The City on the Lake | a selection of the fantastic images captured by my pillion Ali as we sped around the triathlon course. The skyline is a marvelous backdrop to such an event.
Dolly Grip | the moto crew organizer Patrick kindly sent me this photograph yesterday that he captured as I was heading up the off ramp onto Lake Shore Drive with Ali the photographer aboard. Tomorrow I’ll upload a couple of the images Ali captured from the pillion stance.
Triathlon Triumph | What better steed to be on to offer vehicular support for the 36th Chicago Triathlon than a triple cylindered Tiger. Ten volunteer riders showed up under Lake Shore Drive at a coffee and donut fed 5am to give facility for race officials and photographers during the cycling portion of the iconic swim-bike-run endeavor. I had Ali, a Turkish photographer, as my pillion taking him around the course to memorialize the huge effort put in by the entrants. The weather was perfect (though the swim was cancelled due to unsafe lake conditions) and we all had a great time.
Out ‘n’ About | A good black and white photo reminds me of countless hours in chemical scented dark rooms trying to get the optimum negative exposure from the enlarger. Developer : Stop-Bath : Fix
“Do not enter” light on the door.
Coffee Stop | between the summer storms we managed a brief trip north for an iced java in Highwood. An occasional fresh breeze wafted up the lakefront ravines from Lake Michigan. Very pleasant.
Besting the Summer Heat | A sharp start this morning whilst the cool air was still around. A low light angle picks out the rural landscape in stark contrasting shadows. A hayfield has been harvested and baled for fodder. The khaki hue of the Tiger sits comfortably in the countryside scene.
The Single Step | today was the Tigers first true ride: a short 80 mile jaunt up to Zion IL and back through Lake Country. Impeccable manners and a joy to travel on; the prospect from the Corbin saddle is commanding and controls are all ‘at hand’.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Chinese Proverb
The Replacement | I dropped into Johnny Scheff’s Motoworks yesterday and utilizing their deals on ’18 model bikes made good on this Tiger 800 XCx. Triumph are including pannier boxes for bikes in June too so the old black crow has a successor. I’m considering the name George for it after my grandfather George Lawrie who rode olive drab motorcycles in North Africa during WWII.
Motoblot | The annual pilgrimage to Chicago’s main open air motorcycle gathering was had today. Weather cooperated after stormy forecasts. Plenty to look at amongst the offering. The KZ900 in sparkly brown and oranges was a notable example; as was a display of the Danish in-line 4 workpony’s Nimbus.
Gas Up! | weekend arrives none too soon! Motoblot bike show here in Chicago.
Leadville | The prime destination last weekend was the old mining town of Galena. Historical seat of Joe Daviess Country and home of Ulysses S Grant. In the early C19th it rivaled Chicago in population and was the busiest steamboat hub north of St Louis.
geordiebiker.com 